What stands out worked out from the figures below

Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).

Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Orange	Canaan
People
Population	957Highest	810Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.3±5.3Lowest 17% above VT	53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%	15.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	28.5%±5.9Highest VT: 21.4%
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	13.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	3%±2.3Highest VT: 7%
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT	$55,606±$4kLowest 32% below VT
	Orange and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$22kHighest 30% below VT	$201,900±$46kLowest 36% below VT
	Orange and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,330±$153 8% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,545Highest 30% below VT	$3,389Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4%	17.2%±63.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1%	10.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%	91.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	20 minLowest 15% below VT
Work from home	13.5%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	15.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Echo Valley Community Union School District #67	Canaan School District
High school in town	None in town	Canaan High School CTE Program
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.